Tip leads to seizure of nearly $105,000 in pot

Tuesday

Sep 23, 2008 at 2:57 PMSep 23, 2008 at 3:00 PM

BEATRIZ E. VALENZUELA Staff Writer

HESPERIA — About $105,000 in marijuana was confiscated from a man's home following a WeTip lead, officials said.

Deputy Bela Lukacs, of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Hesperia station, went to a home in the 19200 block of Vine Street at about 11:50 p.m. Monday regarding a tip about possible narcotics for sale, sheriff's officials said.

Lukacs met the homeowner, Jon Dimperio, in the front yard of the home when Lukacs immediately smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the home, authorities said.

Once inside the home, Lukacs discovered the smell was coming from the garage, according to Hesperia station officials.

Inside the garage Lukacs found a sophisticated indoor marijuana cultivation site with its own lighting system, climate controls and irrigation equipment, officials said.

Sheriff's deputies seized a total of 30 developed marijuana plants, authorities said.

Dimperio was arrested for cultivation of marijuana and booked into Victor Valley Jail, officials said.

WeTip is a useful resource for anonymously reporting crimes, and tipsters may receive a $1,000 reward, Hesperia station officials said.

Anyone with any information about a crime may call WeTip at (800) 78-CRIME.

Beatriz E. Valenzuela can be reached at 951-6276 or at BValenzuela@vvdailypress.com